Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to an SCR aftertreatment system and incentives/inducements for an operator/user to maintain the SCR aftertreatment in compliance with operating requirements and/or regulations. An engine is operationally coupled to at least one of a DEF tank and an SCR aftertreatment system. An inducement signal value is determined in response to a threshold value being obtained relating to at least one of the DEF tank level indication, a DEF quality indication, and an SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication. The inducement signal value initiates at least one derate value of the engine to incentivize or induce the operator to have the aftertreatment system maintained and avoid or prevent out-of compliance operation of the SCR aftertreatment system.
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1. A method for providing a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system maintenance incentive, comprising: interpreting an SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication associated with at least one of a DEF tank and an aftertreatment system operationally coupled to an engine; determining an inducement signal value when the SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication obtains a threshold value; and derating the engine in response to the inducement signal value.
A method to encourage maintenance of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system involves monitoring the system for malfunctions in the DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) tank or aftertreatment system connected to an engine. When a malfunction indicator reaches a specific threshold, the engine's performance is reduced (derated) to incentivize the operator to service the SCR system and prevent it from operating out of compliance. This ensures the aftertreatment system is maintained properly.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value for the SCR aftertreatment system is an elapse of a predetermined amount of time since the SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication.
The SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 1) activates the engine derating based on how long the SCR system malfunction indication has been present. The threshold for derating isn't simply the presence of a fault, but the passage of a predetermined amount of time since the fault was first detected. This provides a grace period before the engine derate takes effect.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein derating the engine comprises utilizing an inducement schedule that includes an initial derate value, a secondary derate value, and a final derate value, wherein the derate value increases, in order, from the initial derate value to the secondary derate value to the final derate value.
The SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 1) implements engine derating using a schedule with three stages: an initial derate, a secondary derate, and a final derate. The degree of engine performance reduction increases progressively through these stages, from the initial level to the secondary level and finally to the most severe final level, thus escalating the incentive for system maintenance.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the initial derate value comprises at least one of a torque derate value and a speed derate value.
In the three-stage derating schedule for SCR maintenance incentive (as described in Claim 3), the initial derate value involves limiting either the engine's torque output or its maximum speed, or both. This provides a moderate reduction in performance as an initial warning.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the final derate value comprises at least one of an engine shutdown operation, an engine forced idle operation, a limp-home mode, and a restart limitation.
In the three-stage derating schedule for SCR maintenance incentive (as described in Claim 3), the final derate value comprises actions like shutting down the engine completely, forcing it to idle, putting it into a low-power "limp-home" mode, or limiting the number of times the engine can be restarted. These actions represent the most severe performance reductions.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the restart limitation comprises limiting the engine to a predetermined number of restart events in response to the final derate value.
The SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 5), the engine restart limitation, triggered by the final derate value, restricts the engine to a specific number of restart attempts after the final derate has been applied.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the initial derate and the secondary derate comprises a ramped derate.
In the three-stage derating schedule for SCR maintenance incentive (as described in Claim 3), at least one of the initial or secondary derate phases involves a "ramped derate," where the performance reduction is gradually increased over time, rather than applied all at once.
8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising allowing at least one operator derate override during derating the engine.
The SCR maintenance incentive method using engine derating (as described in Claim 3) allows the operator to temporarily override the derating effect at least once. This gives the operator some control and flexibility in managing the derated engine.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the final derate value does not allow the operator derate override.
In the SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 8), once the final derate value is reached in the schedule, the operator is no longer allowed to override the engine derating. This ensures that the final derate is enforced.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein derating the engine further comprises at least one of a ramped derate and a derate schedule.
The SCR maintenance incentive method using engine derating (as described in Claim 1) further incorporates a "ramped derate" where the derating is applied gradually, or uses a pre-defined derate schedule that dictates how the engine performance is reduced over time.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the ramped derate comprises a percentage derate per minute value.
In the ramped derate implementation for SCR maintenance incentive (as described in Claim 10), the engine's performance is reduced by a specific percentage each minute until the desired derate level is achieved.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the percentage derate per minute value is 1% per minute.
The SCR maintenance incentive ramped derate (as described in Claim 11) reduces engine performance at a rate of 1% per minute.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing at least one operator derate override during derating the engine.
The SCR maintenance incentive method using engine derating (as described in Claim 1) allows the operator to temporarily override the derating effect at least once, providing some flexibility in managing the derated engine.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: interpreting at least one of a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank level indication and a DEF quality indication; and determining the inducement signal value when the SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication and at least one of the DEF tank level indication and the DEF quality indication obtains the threshold value.
The SCR maintenance incentive method involves monitoring the DEF tank level and DEF quality in addition to SCR system malfunctions. The engine derating is triggered when the SCR malfunction indication *and* either a low DEF tank level *or* poor DEF quality reach specified threshold values.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the DEF tank level indication is a continuous DEF tank level indication.
In the SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 14), the DEF tank level is monitored continuously, providing a real-time measurement of the fluid level.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the DEF quality indication is a binary quality value.
In the SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 14), the DEF quality is represented as a simple binary value, indicating whether the fluid quality is acceptable or poor.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the threshold value for the DEF tank level indication is a threshold tank fill level and the inducement signal value is determined when the DEF tank level indication is below the threshold tank fill level.
In the SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 14), the DEF tank level threshold is a minimum fill level. If the DEF level drops below this threshold, the engine derating inducement signal is triggered.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the threshold value for the DEF quality indication is an elapse of a predetermined amount of time since a poor DEF quality indication.
In the SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 14), the threshold for poor DEF quality is defined as the elapse of a predetermined amount of time since the poor DEF quality was detected.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein: determining the inducement signal value includes determining when the threshold value of the at least one of the DEF tank level indication, the DEF quality indication, and the SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication obtains a first threshold value, a second threshold value, and a third threshold value; and derating the engine includes utilizing an inducement schedule that includes inducement signal values with an initial derate value at the first threshold value, a secondary derate value at the second threshold value, and a final derate value at the third threshold value that increase in an amount of derate, in order, from the initial derate value to the secondary derate value to the final derate value.
The SCR maintenance incentive method involves multiple thresholds for the DEF tank level, DEF quality, and SCR malfunction. Engine derating uses a schedule that includes an initial derate at the first threshold, a secondary derate at the second threshold, and a final derate at the third threshold. The derate severity increases at each stage.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first threshold value is a first time period since the DEF quality indication, the second threshold value is a second time period after the first time period, and the third threshold value is a third time period after the second time period.
In the multi-threshold SCR maintenance incentive method based on DEF quality (as described in Claim 19), the thresholds are based on time elapsed since poor DEF quality was detected: a first time period, a second time period after the first, and a third time period after the second. Each period triggers a more severe derate.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising providing a warning of poor DEF quality upon interpreting the DEF quality indication.
The SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 20) provides a warning message when poor DEF quality is first detected, alerting the operator before any derating occurs.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first threshold value is a first time period following the SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication, the second threshold value is a second time period, after the first time period, and the third threshold value is a third time period after the second time period.
In the multi-threshold SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 19), the thresholds are based on time elapsed since the SCR system malfunction was detected: a first time period, a second time period after the first, and a third time period after the second. Each period triggers a more severe derate.
23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising providing a warning of SCR aftertreatment system malfunction upon interpreting the SCR aftertreatment malfunction indication.
The SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 22) provides a warning message when the SCR system malfunction is first detected, alerting the operator before any derating occurs.
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first threshold value is a first DEF tank level that is less than the DEF tank level indication, the second threshold value is a second DEF tank level that is less than the first DEF tank level, and the third threshold value is a time period after the DEF tank level indication reaches the second threshold value.
In the multi-threshold SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 19), the thresholds are based on DEF tank level: a first level, a lower second level, and a time period after the level reaches the second level.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the second DEF tank level corresponds to an empty DEF tank.
The SCR maintenance incentive method (as described in Claim 24) defines the second DEF tank level as corresponding to an empty DEF tank.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the time period ranges from about 2 minutes to one hour.
In the SCR maintenance incentive method where the second DEF level means an empty tank (as described in Claim 25), the time period after the tank is empty before the final derate kicks in ranges from approximately 2 minutes to 1 hour.
27. A system, comprising: an internal combustion engine including an exhaust system for receiving an exhaust gas produced by the internal combustion engine; a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system connected to the exhaust system for treating nitrous oxide emissions in the exhaust gas; a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank connected to the exhaust system to provide DEF to the SCR aftertreatment system; an SCR aftertreatment system indicator configured to detect an SCR system malfunction; and a controller configured to determine an inducement signal value in response to the at least one of the DEF level indicator, the DEF quality indicator, and the SCR aftertreatment system indicator obtaining a threshold value, the controller further being configured to derate the engine in response to the inducement signal value.
An SCR system maintenance incentive system includes an engine with an exhaust system, an SCR aftertreatment system connected to the exhaust, a DEF tank supplying DEF to the SCR system, a sensor to detect SCR malfunctions, and a controller. The controller monitors the DEF level, DEF quality, and SCR malfunction indicator, and derates the engine when any of these reach a threshold.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the controller is configured to derate the engine according to an inducement schedule that includes an initial derate value, a secondary derate value, and a final derate value, wherein the derate value increases, in order, from the initial derate value to the secondary derate value to the final derate value.
The SCR system maintenance incentive system (as described in Claim 27) is designed to derate the engine according to a schedule with three levels: initial, secondary, and final. The severity of the derate increases with each level.
29. The system of claim 27 , wherein the initial derate value comprises at least one of a torque derate value and a speed derate value.
In the SCR system maintenance incentive system (as described in Claim 28), the initial engine derate includes reducing the engine's torque output or its maximum speed.
30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the final derate value comprises at least one of an engine shutdown operation, an engine forced idle operation, a limp-home mode, and a restart limitation.
In the SCR system maintenance incentive system (as described in Claim 28), the final engine derate can include shutting down the engine, forcing it to idle, limiting it to "limp-home" mode, or limiting the number of restarts.
31. The system of claim 27 , further comprising: at least one of: a DEF level indicator configured to detect a level of DEF in the DEF tank; and a DEF quality indicator configured to detect a quality of the DEF, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the inducement signal value in response to the SCR aftertreatment system indicator and the at least one of the DEF level indicator and the DEF quality indicator obtaining the threshold value.
The SCR system maintenance incentive system (as described in Claim 27) also includes a DEF level sensor and/or a DEF quality sensor. The controller uses these sensors, along with the SCR malfunction sensor, to determine when to derate the engine based on pre-defined thresholds.
32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the inducement signal value when the threshold value of the at least one of the DEF tank level indicator, the DEF quality indicator, and the SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indicator obtains a first threshold value, a second threshold value, and a third threshold value, the controller further being configured to derate the engine according to an inducement schedule having inducement signal values that include an initial derate value at the first threshold value, a secondary derate value at the second threshold value, and a final derate value at the third threshold value that increase in an amount of derate in order, from the initial derate value to the secondary derate value to the final derate value.
The SCR maintenance incentive system (as described in Claim 31) uses multiple thresholds for DEF level, DEF quality, and SCR malfunction. The controller initiates an initial derate at the first threshold, a secondary derate at the second, and a final derate at the third, with increasing severity.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the first threshold value for the DEF quality indication is a first time period since the DEF quality indicator indicates a poor DEF quality, the second threshold value is a second time period after the first time period, and the third threshold value is a third time period after the second time period.
In the multi-threshold SCR system (as described in Claim 32), the DEF quality thresholds are defined as time periods since poor DEF quality was detected: a first time, a second time after the first, and a third time after the second.
34. The system of claim 33 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a warning signal before the first time period upon indication of poor DEF quality.
The SCR maintenance incentive system (as described in Claim 33) provides a warning signal to the operator when poor DEF quality is first detected, before the first time period has elapsed and before any derating occurs.
35. The system of claim 32 , wherein the first threshold value for the SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication is an elapse of a first time period since the SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication, the second threshold value is an elapse of a second time period after the first time period, and the third threshold value is an elapse of a third time period after the second time period.
In the multi-threshold SCR system (as described in Claim 32), the SCR malfunction thresholds are defined as time periods since the malfunction was detected: a first time, a second time after the first, and a third time after the second.
36. The system of claim 35 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a warning signal before the first time period upon indication of SCR aftertreatment system malfunction.
The SCR maintenance incentive system (as described in Claim 35) provides a warning signal to the operator when a SCR system malfunction is first detected, before the first time period has elapsed and before any derating occurs.
37. The system of claim 32 , wherein the first threshold value for the DEF tank level indication is a first DEF tank level, the second threshold value is a second DEF tank level that is less than the first DEF tank level, and the third threshold value is an elapse of a time period after the DEF tank level indication reaches the second threshold value.
In the multi-threshold SCR system (as described in Claim 32), the DEF tank level thresholds are: a first DEF level, a second DEF level lower than the first, and a time period after the DEF level reaches the second (lower) level.
38. The system of claim 37 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a warning signal before the DEF tank level indication obtains the first DEF tank level.
The SCR maintenance incentive system (as described in Claim 37) provides a warning signal before the DEF tank level reaches the first threshold level, alerting the operator before any derating begins.
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December 4, 2014
April 18, 2017
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